Shoot or No Shot - Episode 7

[WapitiTalk1]

Western Montana, 5th day of your 7 day archery elk hunt, 26 SEPT, 7:40 AM.  You stopped just off the edge of this meadow, getting ready to throw a locater bugle against the far hill side and see if anybody's home when this handsome young fella steps out at 40 yards.  You have a deer tag, in addition to your elk tag, but planned on waiting until later in the year to rifle hunt them in the same general area.  If Wally Whitetail lowers his head to have a snack, are you letting an arrow fly?

Reminder that if you save the picture to your desktop and open in MS Paint, you'll be able to place a spot, X, or whatever on the critter before you save it back to a jpg and add the marked up pic with your post.

[Karl Blanchard]

Wouldn't even be tempted.  Way better bucks to be had in Montana and a nice long season to chase them in.  On top of that, I've got elk to kill and don't want to burn precious time on taking care of a deer unless its a beast.

[Karl Blanchard]

If I was gonna let the air out of him though, I would put it right here!

[Ccortez]

Wouldn't even be tempted.  Way better bucks to be had in Montana and a nice long season to chase them in.  On top of that, I've got elk to kill and don't want to burn precious time on taking care of a deer unless its a beast.

 

[lamrith]

WOW, way to throw a complex one as always!  As a new hunter I really I appreciate these and hearing everyone's answers.  Taking the shot for me would likely involve as many issues outside the day as what I have been presented in front of me.

• Do I even have an arrow nocked/bow ready?
• Is it possible to pull another deer tag? if yes, skip to 4, if not 2&3 will make decision
• Is the later Rifle hunt part of an annual tradition with family friends, scheduled at work? If so, no shot, now how to not spook the deer and any local elk..
• Have I already made reservations for the rifle hunt, cancellable?  If not cancellable then same as #2
• Have I heard/seen much elk activity in the previous 4 days and just not gotten a shot yet? If no elk sign, take shot, to least put something in the freezer.  If I had seen elk then go to 5
• Do I have help with me once that deer is down to get it packed out quickly and back to the elk hunt fast and maybe save last 1/2 of the day? If yes +1 take shot.  I am a meat hunter, if I can tag out both deer and elk in one trip versus coming back later it saves quite a bit of $

As for the shot assuming I decide to take it, 40 is the max of my comfort zone currently for an ethical shot.  If that head drops, or better yet turns away from me, I put the pretty red pin on the red dot and send it.  Given my abilities right now the shot should be in the yellow allowing leeway incase he jumps string.

[Karl Blanchard]

I want to remind everyone as well, this is Montana, so your tag is about $600!

[northwesthunter84]

Im with BLR, just sit back and watch.  There are a lot of deer in Montana and he is not all that big.  I would even say that he is between 2 1/2 to 3 1/2 yrs old.  No if I were really wanting some meat, maybe on the last day.

[kentrek]

That fact that I've had to actually think about means I should be shooting....then go buy an Idaho deer tag 

[Big6bull]

Dead buck. Kick back and enjoy camping. Dot above for me too.

[grundy53]

Wouldn't even be tempted.  Way better bucks to be had in Montana and a nice long season to chase them in.  On top of that, I've got elk to kill and don't want to burn precious time on taking care of a deer unless its a beast.

sent from my typewriter

[JLS]

If the weather is conducive to this guy hanging in a tree for a couple of days, he's dying.  If my buddy is with me, he's dying.

If I'm by myself and a long ways from the truck, he'll live to see another day.

[floatinghat]

That fact that I've had to actually think about means I should be shooting....then go buy an Idaho deer tag 

I am the opposite, if I have to think and justify rather than being a "non brainer", not a shooter.

[D-Rock425]

I hate to say it but id probably let him have it.  I'm just slightly trigger happy.

[Rainier10]

I hate to say it but id probably let him have it.  I'm just slightly trigger happy.

I love to shoot.

[pianoman9701]

Almost 3 whole days left in the elk hunt and coming back later for Modern deer? No way. My luck would be that I'd be processing him and the biggest MT bull in history would come take a look. I'd wait for an elk.

[Band]

Given my abilities right now the shot should be in the yellow allowing leeway incase he jumps string.

My study of what happens when a whitetail deer "jumps the string" has revealed that they typically lower the front of their body straight down about 2' as they collapse their front legs in preparation for using all 4 legs to spring forward.  I have seen this scenario time and time again by putting the shot on hunting shows in slow motion, and I find that the arrow on the lung shot attempt usually ends up passing right over the top of their front shoulder when the deer ducks.  If the shooter is aiming very low (to hit the heart) they often hit the spine.  Just something to think about and pay close attention to when you see video of a deer jumping the string.

I should add that I haven't seen enough of this scenario with mule deer to make a positive judgement of how they normally respond when they jump the string but elk seem to be enough of a lumbering creature that, unless they are really on edge, don't seem to react fast enough to jump the string much.

[MtnMuley]

No way.  Much better whiteys all over Montana, ecpecially later on.  Especially since in your scenario you'd planned on going back.  Priority now:   elk.

[JLS]

Given my abilities right now the shot should be in the yellow allowing leeway incase he jumps string.

My study of what happens when a whitetail deer "jumps the string" has revealed that they typically lower the front of their body straight down about 2' as they collapse their front legs in preparation for using all 4 legs to spring forward.  I have seen this scenario time and time again by putting the shot on hunting shows in slow motion, and I find that the arrow on the lung shot attempt usually ends up passing right over the top of their front shoulder when the deer ducks.  If the shooter is aiming very low (to hit the heart) they often hit the spine.  Just something to think about and pay close attention to when you see video of a deer jumping the string.

I should add that I haven't seen enough of this scenario with mule deer to make a positive judgement of how they normally respond when they jump the string but elk seem to be enough of a lumbering creature that, unless they are really on edge, don't seem to react fast enough to jump the string much.

Elk don't do it as often, but they CAN jump the string as much as a whitetail.  I completely missed one once at 40 yards that did a whitetail move on me.

[kentrek]

That fact that I've had to actually think about means I should be shooting....then go buy an Idaho deer tag 

I am the opposite, if I have to think and justify rather than being a "non brainer", not a shooter.

I'd think that'd be the case for a special unit but for over the counter...archery...he's a nice buck....not a giant but....I'd be happy with him.....

Plus early season flavor has my trigger finger twitching   

[Shawn Ryan]

I'm with BLRman.  No shooting, but if I was a shooter, my target would be close to the same, maybe down and to the left a tad.

[Broken Arrow]

Absolutely no way am I shooting that deer with the circumstances described.

[xXLojackXx]

No shoot. I'm there to elk hunt. I had a similar situation here in WA. Was on some elk and had a nice 4x5 Muley about 45 yards feeding and I let him walk. And then ate my tags 

[WapitiTalk1]

I'm with most of you guys on this one.  I'm going back later in the year for boom stick season, probably during the November rut.  There are much bigger WT's in MT to be had.  I'm not interrupting my archery elk hunt for the tall 3 point WT either 

[elkmtngear]

He gets a pass if I'm elk hunting.  Unless I tag early, and happen to see him again, then he's gonna get shot

I would go with the spot JLS posted